In particular, is it the past militarism of Germany now renounced, or its historic reconciliation with former adversaries of France and Russia, or its embrace of pacifism, or its leader winning an election by making antiwar statements. Is this the first time you have observed candidates taking antiwar anti-Bush positions in seeking political advantage? Is that not what Bush's potential Democrat opponents are doing in our own country? Yes, I have a problem with Schroeder who ran against the war in order to win an election, but it was France and Russia who had veto power and stood against us at the UN, as did other permanent members. But, it was mainly Russia, France, China and Czechoslovakia and other members of the UN Security Council that sold weapons to Saddam, as illustrated by Chart 1. Weapons sales created the bulk of the debt as shown in Chart 2. Landmines were sold by Italian firms. Meanwhile, Germany bans the selling weapons into areas of conflict and prosecutes firms in violation. Germany has extended humanitarian and reconstruction grants to Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq which far outstrip most other countries, even as Germans were granting $50 billion+ to the Russia to build housing in the Soviet Union after its collapse. Germany also contributed $9 billion to the US after the first Gulf War, a fact you never mention, though Germany was importing less than 1% of its oil from Iraq. (Most of it came from Russia.) Further, though it cut the size of its military as a condition for reunification, Germany has had 3,900 troops in Afghanistan and another 4,000 in other peacekeeping assignments, provides and supports US military and medical facilities in Germany, and flew NATO-sponsored AWACs flights over North America during our recent military campaigns when our forces were stretched. Lastly, it is actively attempting to reconcile differences with the US. So, what is it with your jihad against Germany? Is it your bosses at FoxNews? I grew up in an Italian neighborhood and I never heard anyone express the same relentless hatred that you do. And you do it on national TV when most of your guests come on and try to correct your misimpressions. Every time you make your statements fomenting hatred, the Internet buzzes with anti-German slurs. Having spent three years with the US Army in Germany, I can tell you there is a tremendous reservoir of goodwill toward America, its principles and its people.
Forgive me that I only have this one chart.
The Kohl government (from 1982-1998) was strongly pro-US. They would have never dealt with Saddam after 1991. And the Schröder government includes Greens who restricted arms exports (one reason why our armament industry is sold off by US companies...) - they even got outraged when we sold tanks to the Saudis.
FRegards,
Michael